Shloka 57

Devanagari script

ततो मनुष्याः पशवो मृगपक्षिसरीसृपाः न्यूना न्यूनतराश् चैव वृक्षगुल्मादयस् ततः

Transliteration

tato manuṣyāḥ paśavo mṛgapakṣisarīsṛpāḥ nyūnā nyūnatarāś caiva vṛkṣagulmādayas tataḥ

Translation

ఆ తరువాత మనుష్యులు, తరువాత పశువులు, తరువాత మృగములు, పక్షులు, సరిసృపములు—ప్రతి తరువాతి వర్గము ముందటివానికంటే తక్కువ గుణసంపత్తి కలది. ఆపై వృక్షములు, గుల్మములు మొదలైనవి ప్రదర్శించబడినవి. ఈ విధంగా పరమేశ్వరుడు విష్ణువు నియమించిన క్రమములో జీవుల సామర్థ్యము, స్థానం విభజింపబడినవి।

Word by Word

ततःthereafter, from that

मनुष्याःhumans

पशवःanimals, cattle

मृगपक्षिसरीसृपाःbeasts, birds, and reptiles

न्यूनाःlesser

न्यूनतराःstill lesser

चand

एवindeed

वृक्षगुल्मादयःtrees, shrubs, and others

ततःthereafter

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Gradation of embodied life-forms arising in sequence with diminishing endowments (humans to animals to plants) under the Supreme ordinance

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied beings arise in graded orders with differing capacities, all allotted by the Supreme ordinance, implying a purposeful cosmic distribution of powers and stations.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice ahimsā and stewardship: recognize all life as participating in the Lord’s order, and use human capacities for dharma, compassion, and devotion rather than domination.

Vishishtadvaita: Real plurality of jīvas with unequal capacities is affirmed, yet all are sustained and governed by the one Lord as their inner ruler and final end.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Jagat Karana: Yes

FAQs

What is the significance of the graded sequence of beings in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It presents creation as an ordered hierarchy where successive forms of life are described as comparatively less endowed, emphasizing a structured cosmic arrangement rather than randomness.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the unfolding of creation to Maitreya here?

Parāśara lists categories of beings arising “thereafter” in a descending gradation—humans, animals, birds/reptiles, and then vegetation—framing creation as sequential and systematically differentiated.

What is the theological importance of Lord Viṣṇu in this context?

Even when not named explicitly in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s creation account is grounded in Viṣṇu’s supreme governance: the hierarchy and distribution of capacities among beings reflect His sustaining cosmic sovereignty.